mattdowney Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 has anybody ever seen or built a 30 fret guitar? i think it would be really cool because u would have 3 octaves. you could play a scale in E on the open E, a scale in E at the 12th and a scale in E at the 24th, i think u get what i mean. has this been done befour. i think i might have seen one imm not sure. imm thinking of maybe doing this for my next project. matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Rosenberger Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Ummm, wouldn't it need 36 frets to have 3 octaves? 12 frets per octave x 3 octaves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biohazard Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Good point, it would need 36 frets woudln't it. Would this be impractical because of scale lengths etc? Or would it in fact be possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 MikeB did a 31 fret. Just do a forum search and you should find it. You only need 24 frets for two octaves (which is what you're describing). Lots of guitars come standard with that. For three octaves you'll have to have 36 frets. At that point I don't think you'd be able to play in between the frets though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Late as usual Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asomodai Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 I actually own a 36 fret guitar, called a WAshburn EC-36, It was one of only two commercially succesful 36 fretters in history. They were made for two years in the 80's along with the 29 fret version, 200 36 fretters were made, in japan. The quality is amazingand the thru neck is just divine. i have one in a red and black crackle finish which was the most produced one. If you need anymore information just say i'd like to consider myself an expert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAI6 Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Yeah, the Wasburn and the Hamer Virtuoso. Vai had a Virtuoso. And I'm trying to remember, but doesn't the Washburn have the Stephens Extended Cutaway on it.....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePlague Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 danelectro also made some guitars with more than 24 frets. i can't find the magazine right now, but i know i have one with paul gilbert holding either a 30 or a 36 fret danelectro. and then there's always michael angelo's 29 (?) fret charvel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hy_dro66 Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 The third octave would have some tight fret spacing. That would take some getting used to. Consider the number of frets over the body, the bridge will move towards the upper bout as you change which fret is at the body joint. I guess you could just do a super cutaway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Jabsco Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Dan electro made a 32 fret guitar caled the 'guitaralin' and it was nicknamed the longhorn. Its imposible to play on such small frets tho, it wouldnt even make a real difference. Also the neck wouldnt be quite as stable if it is so long. they adress the issue in melvyn hiscock's book Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattdowney Posted June 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 ya i know u would need 36 frets to have 3 full octaves but if you had 30 you could have 3 octaves of E to work with. for example if you were soloing in E you could use a scale starting at the 24th fret. any more that 30 frets, the frets would be to close together unles you used a longer scale length. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truerussian558 Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 well you could always increase the scale lenght, to make it a bit wider, but to make it even possible to play i think the scale would have to be increased substantially. and consdering the already long neck, it might bend and other deformities in the neck might occur just my $.02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Jabsco Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 He could do a neck thru body design with the top horn being attached to the neck and going up to the 12th freat about, that would provide enough support, but it would look like **** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeB Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 at 31st fret on my guitar its tight!!! up to 29 is not too bad, but then its real small!!! im considering doing tjhe whole 36 or 37... J/K if you want my link to my guitar just say and ill hoke it out, sould turn up in a search tho! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truerussian558 Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 He could do a neck thru body design with the top horn being attached to the neck and going up to the 12th freat about, that would provide enough support, but it would look like **** yes like one of those harp guitars, they scare me also if you dont make it a bass sized body i think it would look unbalance with this overly large fretboard/neck, and a guitar sized body Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAI6 Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 Here's the Virtuoso: http://www.electricguitar.50megs.com/virtuoso.htm A friend of mine had one, and he wailed on it like crazy! I seem to remember Vai saying that it wasn't too bad "up there", you just had to adjust to playing with your nails, as opposed to your fingertips..... It was a nice axe.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truerussian558 Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 the only thing you could do on the high frets are finger nail playing,.... inless you are a midget seems like a hellaofa guitar btw, it just a bit impractical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob7 Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 hmmm a 36 fret bass? maybe possibly.......6 string 36 fret bass....Or baritone guitar 36 fret....hmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truerussian558 Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 the problem with a 36 fret bass is that its just much easier to use a guitar instead of reaching that far up on a bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myka Guitars Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 Funny, I have at least 4 octaves on my 21 fretters. Low E on the open 6th string E on the 4th string 2nd fret high E on the open 1 st string higher E on the 1st string 12th fret highest E 1st string 21st fret bent 2" off the edge of the body I saw a guitar recently with a pickup behind the tune-o-matic. Now that's a high note. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePlague Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 yah you have 4 octaves , but you don't have even 2 full octaves on each string. those 36 fret guitars actually have 5 full octaves without bending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myka Guitars Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 yah you have 4 octaves , but you don't have even 2 full octaves on each string. those 36 fret guitars actually have 5 full octaves without bending. Sorry, man. I just was making a (stupid) joke. I am fusion guy and play more laterally than linearly. And I hardly ever get past the 17th fret even on my 24 fret electric. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePlague Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 i suspected that, but you can never be sure. there are some people out there who just don't get things. i rarely go over 19 or 20 on my 24 fretter, but it's nice knowing that you can if you need/want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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